Hinge for an access panel



United States Patent John B. Schaek Auburn, Washington 814,940

April 10, 1969 Sept. 8, 1970 Concrete Conduit Co. Auburn, Washington a corporation of Washington Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee HINGE FOR AN ACCESS PANEL 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1894 Vaughn,Jr. 49/33X Primary Examiner Kenneth Downey Attorney-Seed, Berry and Dowrey ABSTRACT: A hinge which is particularly useful in connecting a grating structure to an underground utility vault or other similar structure is disclosed as well as a lock mechanism for the grillwork structure. The hinges are flush mounted with the surface of the grill and are so constructed that the grill can be rotated at least 180' with the hinges being the pivot point, thus allowing the grate to lie flat on a surface adjacent the vault opening when access to the vault is necessary. The hinge comprises a lug member having a recessed slot therein and extending from the frame of the vault structure and a linking member linking the frame to cross bars of the grillwork structure of the grating.

. Patented Sept. 8, 1970 Sheet L of 2 FIG==2 JOHN B. scHAcK' INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1970 Z of 2 Sheet JOHN B. SOHAOK ATTORNEYS IHIIINGE FOR AN ACCESS PANEL EMJCITOROUND OF THE INVENTION ll. Field ofthe Invention This invention relates to an improved hinge and access panel utilizing said hinge and to a lock mechanism for said access panel.

2. Prior Art Relating to the Invention Underground utility vaults for underground electrical or telephone conduits often require an atmospherically exposed opening for ventilation which must be covered by a grate structure. These grate structures are usually connected to a frame around the openings of the vaults by bolts which extend through flanges in the grillwork and into the vault sidewalls. The depressions around the bolts, over a period of time, accumulate dirt and other debris, making it difficult to remove them. Corrosion also tends to weld the bolts in place making them very difficult to remove. When bolts are used it is necessary to remove the bolts holding the grate structure in place, pull the grate from the opening, and lay it to the side of the opening when access is desired. It is highly desirable and advantageous to obtain easy access to such'utility vaults and to be able to lay the grating to one side of the opening with the grating still attached to the vault opening.

EilJlvIlvlARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved means of securing grate structures or other access panels to underground utility vault structures utilizing a novel hinge and lock means. The hinge of this invention is flush mounted with the surface of the grating when it is in its normally closed position. On opening, the grating can be laid flat against the surface adjacent the vault opening. The lock means effectively prevents opening of the grating by unauthorized persons yet it is simple to open when necessary.

The improved hinge of this invention comprises :1 lug extending from the frame of the vault opening, the lug having a recessed slot at one end adapted to receive a pintle shaft, an elongated bar connected to the grating structure of the grate and adapted to overlap the lug, a linking member interconnecting the elongated bar and lug, the linking member having an internal slot therein adapted to overlap the lug and elongated bar, pivotal means linking the lug and linking members together, and a pintle shaft connecting the elongated bar and linking member together, the pintle shaft extending through the elongated bar and internal slots of the linking member and resting in the recessed slot of the lug when the hinge is in its normally closed position.

BITIEI DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an isometric view of a preferred grate structure utilizing the hinge and lock means of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an expanded isometric view ofa hinge for the grate structure with the parts of the hinge separated for ease of viewing;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the hinge of this invention in its normally closed position;

FIG. l is a side elcvational view of the hinge in its normally open position; and

FIG. 5 is a side elcvational view of the lock means for securing the grate structure to the vault opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to El Ci. l the grate structure preferably used with the hinge and lock means of this invention comprises a grillwork formed by a plurality of rectangular crossbars a second plurality of rectangular crossbars 12 extending at right angies to the crossbars It], and a ventilator comprising a plurality of chevron baffles 14 extending between side plates 13. Crossbars III are positioned on edge equidistantly parallel to one another and crossbars 12 extend equidistantly parallel to one another and at right angles to crossbars Ill.

The chevron baffles 14 are rigidly attached to the lower ends of crossbars 12. The baffles are divided into two sets with the baffles in each set positioned on edge, equidistantly parallel to one another and opening outward from the longitudinal center of the ventilator structure. A load supporting beam structure extends between the midpoints of the side plates 18 in supporting contact with the grillwork.

The grillwork and ventilator are set in a frame 16 comprising a vertical member 16a and a horizontal member 161). The frame is usually rigidly attached to the edges ofthe opening of a concrete utility vault or other opening in which it is desired to use the grating structure of this invention. The grating structure is hinged to frame points 20 and 22 with the hinges of this invention. At the end of the grating opposite the hinges are located locking means 24 and 26 for locking the grating structure in place.

The hinge for the grating structure or other access panel is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 and comprises a lug 30, linking member 32, pintle shaft 34 and suitable pivotal means. Lug 30 is a rectangular plate-like member of steel or other structural material rigidly attached to frame 16. Lug 30 has an open, positively angled recessed slot 36 in its top side, ofa size suffi cient to receive and hold pintle shaft 34 when the hinge is in its normally closed position.

Linking member 32 is comprised of one or more substantially rectangular bracket members 33 and 35 which have internal slots 38 cut in them substantially parallel with the length dimension of the bracket members.

Linking members 33 and 35 are hinged to lug 30 at pivot point 41 with a pivot pin (not shown in FIG. 2) which passes through openings 37 in linking members 33 and 35 opening 39 and lug member 30. Openings 37 are located opposite internal slots 38 and in substantial alignment therewith. Opening 39 in lug member 30 is located opposite the recessed slot 36 and in substantial alignment therewith.

The length and width dimensions of lug 30 and linking members 33 and 35 are preferably the same in order that the hinge, in its normally closed position, will lie flush with the grate structure.

The grating structure is secured to the linking members by pintle shaft 34 which extends through one or more of the crossbars 10 of the grating structure and through internal slots 38 of linking members 33 and 35. The size of the slots 38 and pintle shaft 34 are such that linking members 33 and 35 are in slidable relation with the pintle shaft.

FIG. 3 shows the hinge in its normally closed position, that is, with the grating covering the vault opening as shown in FIG. I. In closed position the lug 30, linking members 33 and 35, and crossbars 10 are in overlapping relation. The pintle at an angle so that the pintle shaft cannot be pulled from the slot without some lateral movement of the grating. The depth of the slot is sufficient to allow the hinge and grating to lie flush with the top surface of the vault opening..0n opening of the grating structure, crossbars 10 secured to the hinges, pivot about pintle shaft 34 until the crossbars contact vertical member 16a of frame 16. At this point pintle shaft 34 slides out of the recessed slot 36 and along internal slots 38 of linking members 33 and 35. As the crossbars ofthe grating structure are further rotated counter clockwise, linking members 33 and 35 pivot about pivot point 41 allowing the grating structure to be laid flat against the surface adjacent the access opening. When the hinge is fully open as shown in FIG. 4, flanges 40 of linking members 33 and 35 contact the edge of horizontal member 1612 of frame 16, thereby preventing further rotation of linking members 33 and 35 about pivot point 41 in a clockwise direction.

It is to be understood that lug 30, linking members 33 and 35 and pintle pin 34 can be sized for varying sizes of access openings. The internal slots 38 in linking members 33 and 35 should be sufficiently long to allow the grating to lay flat against an adjacent surface.

It is desirable to be able to easily lock the grating structure in place over the access opening so that there is no danger of them being opened by unauthorized persons. It is also desirable that the grating be easily unlocked so that access can easily be had by workmen.

A simple but effective lock means is preferably utilized. As shown in FIG. the preferred lock means for the grating structure is a piece of heavy gauge spring wire 50 pivoted around shaft 52 which is secured between two or more of the crossbars 10. One end 50a of spring wire 50 is bent so as to contact the underside of horizontal member 16b of frame 16 when in locked position. The opposite end 5012 of spring 50 is bent at a right angle to contact the underside of one of the crossbars adjacent the spring 50. To lock the grate structure in place the spring is depressed below the level of the crossbar l0 and end 5012 slipped under the crossbar. A screwdriver or other suitable instrument can be used to disengage the spring when it is desired to obtain access to the opening.

Although the hinge and lock means of this invention have been described with particular reference to a preferred grating structure for underground concrete utility vaults, the hinge can be used equally well in any application for connecting an access panel to a frame for the panel. It is also to be understood that this invention is not to be limited by the construction illustrated but is to include other modifications within the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. in combination with a frame defining an opening and an access panel contacting the frame and covering the opening, a hinge connecting the frame and access panel adapted to (1) lie flush with the access panel when in closed position, and (2) allow the access panel, in open position, to lie flat adjacent the opening, the hinge comprising:

a lug extending from the frame having an open, angled slot in the top side thereof adapted to receive a pintle shaft, the angle of the slot being such that the pintle shaft cannot be removed from the slot without lateral movement of the access panel;

a pair of parallel linking members having parallel internal slots therein of sufficient length to allow the access panel to be rotated at least 180 adapted to overlay the lug on each side thereof and pivotally connected to the lug at a pivot point adjacent the internal slots and in alignment therewith and opposite the slot in said lug;

a pair of elongated bars connected to the access panel and adapted to overlay the lug and linking members; and

a pintle shaft connecting the elongated bars and linking members, the shaft extending through the elongated bars and internal slots of the linking members and resting in the slot of the lug when the hinge is in its normally closed position.

2. The hinge according to claim 1 including a flange on the bottom side of the linking members adapted to contact the frame when the hinge is in the open position to prevent rotation of the linking members about their pivot point more than about 3. An underground utility vault having an exposed opening therein, a frame around said opening, a grate structure covering said opening, and hinges connecting the grate structure to the frame, each of the hinges comprising:

a lug extending horizontally from the frame having an open angled slot therein adapted to receive a pintle shaft, the angle of the slot being such that the pintle shaft cannot be removed from the slot without lateral movement of the grate structure;

a pair of linking members having internal slots therein of sufficient length to allow the grating structure to be rotated at least to allow the grate structure to lie parallel with the surface adjacent the opening and adapted to overlay the lug, the linking members pivotally connected to the lug at a pivot point adjacent the internal slots and in alignment therewith and opposite the open slot in the lug;

a pair of elongated bars connected to the grating structure and ada ted to overlay the lug and linkin members; and a pintle sliaft connecting the elongated ars and linking members together, the shaft extending through the elongated bars and internal slots of the linking members and resting in the open slot of the lug when the hinge is in its normally closed position.

4. The hinge according to claim 1 wherein the grating structure comprises a first plurality of crossbars extending across said opening parallel to one another, a second plurality of crossbars extending parallel to one another, said first and second pluralities of crossbars extending normal to one another and secured together to define a grillwork structure, a pair of side plate members depending from said grillwork structure into said opening; a load supporting beam structure extending between the midpoints of said side plate members in load supporting contact with said grillwrork structure; and a plurality of elongated chevron-type baffle members positioned on edge uniformly spaced across and extending between said side plate members and in rigid contact with said second plurality of crossbars to provide a plurality of ventilating passages communicating with the underside of said grillwork structure, said side plate members, baffle members and beam structure defining a ventilator structure.

5. The hinge according to claim 1 wherein the elongated bars are crossbars ofthe grating structure.

6. The hinge according to claim 4 including a locking means for said grate positioned opposite the hinges, said lock means comprising an elongated spring member supported by said grillwork structure with one end of the spring member adapted to contact the underside of said frame when in locked position and the other end of the spring adapted to engage with the underside of an adjacent crossbar running perpendicular to the length of the spring member. 

